Average Salary for University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Alumni

Students looking for a top value school need look no further than the University of Michigan, a public research university based in Ann Arbor, Mich., that is ranked in the top 5 percent of universities by ROI. Most often cast as a die-hard sports school first, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor students study hard as they cheer on the Wolverines. English is one of the most popular majors at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, and the student ranks boast SAT and ACT test scores well above average. The numbers in this rundown were provided by the UMich grads who participated in PayScale's salary survey.

Industry

The UMich alumni belong to a wide range of sectors. A few fields in which grads tend to find work include the education industry, the consulting industry, and the software development industry. The automotive manufacturing industry registers as the most common industry among alumni. Consistent with the high SAT scores and graduation rates reported by UMich alumni, former students go on to earn high salaries. UMich graduates see an estimated starting salary of $76K.

Gender

There is a sizable difference between men's post-college salaries and women's: the median for the former is $84K, but the median for the latter is only about $65K.

Jobs

Senior Software Engineers win the contest for best-paid UMich alumni, typically making around $103K every year, though Aerospace Engineers ($82K), and Mechanical Engineers ($78K) are not far behind. Executive Directors wrap up the bottom of the pay scale, earning approximately $60K.

Locations

Infamous for its meager salaries (average pay is the lowest at $65K), less than ten percent of UMich students still call Ann Arbor their home after graduation. UMich alumni in search of the largest paycheck, on the other hand, will find it in Seattle where $103K is the average pay. Chicago and New York also rank high on the list of cities.

Employers

UMich alumni can earn the most money (around $97K) at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (JPMCC). In contrast, below-average pay is the norm at the University of Michigan (U-M); median compensation there comes out to approximately $71K.

Degree Major

A medical degree leads to the highest pay for UMich grads ($192K per year). Ranking last in the compensation department are those holding a master's in social work — their annual income amounts to $52K on average.

Skills

Strategic Planning commands a pay premium of 36 percent for former Wolverines. Many UMich grads have knowledge of Project Management, with about one in six alumni using this program on the clock. Experience with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, and Data Analysis is highly valued as well.

Benefits and Perks

Lacking in the benefits department, just two-fifths of alumni report compensation for sick days and only one in four survey participants get vacation time. Health insurance benefits extend to a solid majority of grads, and most alums sign up for dental plans. The greater part of survey participants plan for retirement by taking advantage of a company-sponsored 401(k) program. University of Michigan alumni are rewarded with additional benefits, such as life insurance, a casual working environment, a company-subsidized cell phone, and tuition reimbursement.

Related Schools

Median pay for Purdue University grads is about $73K, making their salaries most similar to those of UMich grads. Wayne State University, Michigan State University, and the University of Illinois at Chicago are also similar to UMich.